ENEL Green Power South Africa has started construction of three new wind farms in the Eastern Cape – Impofu East, Impofu West, and Impofu North. The wind farms will provide energy to Air Liquide and Sasol and are expected to be operational in 2026.
The projects will consist of 57 turbines, eight high-voltage substations, as well as 120 km of 132 kV high-voltage overhead electricity lines and will provide up to 330 MW of renewable energy via a wheeling framework agreement with Eskom to Sasol’s Secunda site in the Mpumalanga province where Air Liquide operates the world’s largest oxygen production facility. The projects will complement the existing platform of over 1.2 GW of renewable energy that Enel Green Power (EGP) South Africa already has in operation.
Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, Manuele Battisti, country manager at Enel Green Power (EGP) South Africa h Africa, said that the projects align seamlessly with the Enel Group’s strategic vision for 2024 to 2026.
“In line with our commitment to the global transition to a low-carbon future, the construction of these wind farms marks significant progress as we see our vision of driving the future of sustainable energy in South Africa come to life. Through strategic partnerships, EGP South Africa is proud to spearhead these transformative wind farm projects, marking a significant leap forward in our mission to power the country’s sustainable future,” stated Battisti. “As we forge ahead with our strategic vision for a sustainable future together, we remain dedicated to not only providing innovative, clean energy solutions in South Africa, but also creating shared value for our partners, communities and clients while enabling progress with sustainable energy, environmentally, socially and financially”.
The new transmission lines from the wind farms will not only improve South Africa’s grid capacity, but will also lean on Enel Green Power’s commitment to creating shared value (CSV) in the communities in which it operates.
While coordinating with up to 60 different landowners within the vicinity of the projects presents its challenges, the social and economic benefits for local communities will be substantial. These include a series of community upliftment initiatives and job creation opportunities that will take place during the construction and operational phases.
